The ponds at Wooton are quite small, and an Osprey looks out of place.

There’s a large population of Bluebirds at Wooton.

I haven’t seen many Great Egrets, so this bird was a nice surprise.
Cornell:
“The elegant Great Egret is a dazzling sight in many a North American wetland. Slightly smaller and more svelte than a Great Blue Heron, these are still large birds with impressive wingspans. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill. Great Egrets were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century, sparking conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds.”

The Belted Kingfishers at Wooton spook easily and it’s hard to get close.

This Goldfinch hasn’t finished his Spring molt yet.

My first Common Yellowthroat of the year.

I saw several Great Blue Herons.

This Pileated Woodpecker and his mate were squawking loudly and darting from tree to tree as I arrived.

Cornell:
“A small, inconspicuous bird of the forest floor, the Ovenbird is one of the most characteristic birds of the eastern forests. Its loud song, “teacher, teacher, teacher,” rings through the summer forest, but the bird itself is hard to see.”

This lovely Hooded Warbler was foraging on the forest floor and I was lucky get usable images.

Cornell:
“Distinctive in both plumage and behavior, the Black-and-white Warbler forages for insects while creeping along the trunks and branches of trees. Common in summer throughout the eastern United States and Canada, it has an unusually extensive winter range that extends from Florida to Venezuela and Colombia.”

I would never have seen this Worm Eating Warbler without the help of the good birders in our party.

These Barn Swallows were taking a break.

This Cliff Swallow was hanging out with the Barn Swallows. He’s probably headed North to his breeding grounds

Yellow Rumped Warblers are not hard to find in the Spring.

We saw several Spotted Sandpipers, but they spooked as soon as we got close.

He was a bit distant, but this Eastern Meadowlark was a nice find.

There were three kinds of swallows, including this Northern Rough Winged Swallow

These Barn Swallows were cruising the containment ponds.

Tree Swallows were hunting right alongside the Barn Swallows.

This Red Shouldered Hawk was settling into her nest as I arrived.

Deer have been scarce lately.

I’m not a big sparrow fan, but these White Throated Sparrows look good in breeding plumage.

This Snowy Egret probably spent the Winter in Central America.

This Bluebird was hanging out in Truxtun Park.

This Brown Thrasher was singing loudly for a mate.

This Dark Eyed Junco should be heading to Canada to breed soon.

This Mallard hen is successfully raising a family.

Cornell:
“The Blue-headed Vireo is the easternmost form in the “Solitary Vireo” complex. Formerly considered one species, three species now are recognized. In appearance it is the most brightly colored of the three.”

Cornell:
“Males usually gather food for the nest, while females feed the nestlings. The young birds start by eating bits of larvae, then grasshoppers, moths, and spiders. One Hermit Thrush has been seen trying to give a nestling a salamander more than 1.5 inches long.”

The White Throated Sparrow is another Canadian breeder.

This Tufted Titmouse was foraging in Truxtun Park.

Double Crested Cormorants are regulars at Patuxent.

You can’t go wrong with a Bluebird in breeding plumage.

Wood Ducks continue to cooperate

Palm Warblers are showing up at many sites.

The skies were filled with Tree Swallows.

This Osprey is nesting at Possum Point.

Ruby Crowned Kinglets are fun to watch, but hard to photograph.

The Blue Headed Vireo is a neo-tropical migrant. This little guy is just arriving from the southern US or Central America.

The Great Black Backed Gull is the largest gull in the world.

White Throated Sparrows should be headed North to breed soon.

These Mallards were in the garden pond.

Cornell:
“A bird true to its name, the Pine Warbler is common in many eastern pine forests and is rarely seen away from pines. These yellowish warblers are hard to spot as they move along high branches to prod clumps of needles with their sturdy bills. If you don’t see them, listen for their steady, musical trill, which sounds very like a Chipping Sparrow or Dark-eyed Junco, which are also common piney-woods sounds through much of the year.”

Cornell:
“A crisp, pretty sparrow whose bright rufous cap both provides a splash of color and makes adults fairly easy to identify. Chipping Sparrows are common across North America wherever trees are interspersed with grassy openings. Their loud, trilling songs are one of the most common sounds of spring woodlands and suburbs.”

Yellow Rumped Warblers are everywhere!

Eastern Towhees don’t often pose so well.

The Blue Gray Gnatcatcher is another fast moving bird who’s difficult to photograph.

This Red Shouldered Hawk has a nest right next to the District Court building.

This Pine Warbler has probably just arrived from Texas or Mexico.

Starlings aren’t popular, but they can be quite attractive in breeding plumage.

I followed this Cooper’s Hawk to three different perches.

This Caspian Tern was dining at Lake Reddington.

Eastern Phoebes have become very common in the last week or so.

Bluebirds are breeding everywhere I go.

Double Crested Cormorants are thriving at Patuxent.

This Chipping Sparrow may have wintered in the Bahamas.

These Barn Swallows were gathering mud for their nests.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing quietly until I disturbed him.

The Canada Goose always looks serene.

Ospreys are busy building and repairing nests.

I found this Pine Warbler at Truxtun Park.

The Palm Warblers are consistent at Patuxent.

I don’t often see Field Sparrows.

Yellow Rumped Warblers are very numerous.

At least two pair of Wood Ducks are nesting at Patuxent.

Killdeer were unusually active.

This Blue Gray Gnatcatcher has just arrived from Central America or the Bahamas.

This Osprey has a nest nearby.

I haven’t seen a Green Heron since the Fall.

This female Red Winged Blackbird is radically different than her male counterpart.

Green Winged Teal are still present in small numbers.

A pair of Wood Ducks is nesting in the marsh pond.

There were many more Yellow Rumped Warblers than usual.

Eastern Towhees continue to be elusive.

This Blue Winged Teal probably has a nest nearby.

This Red Tailed Hawk circled slowly for a long time.